RESUMO
The maturation of genomic surveillance in the past decade has enabled tracking of the emergence and spread of epidemics at an unprecedented level. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, genomic data revealed that local epidemics varied considerably in the frequency of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineage importation and persistence, likely due to a combination of COVID-19 restrictions and changing connectivity. Here, we show that local COVID-19 epidemics are driven by regional transmission, including across international boundaries, but can become increasingly connected to distant locations following the relaxation of public health interventions. By integrating genomic, mobility, and epidemiological data, we find abundant transmission occurring between both adjacent and distant locations, supported by dynamic mobility patterns. We find that changing connectivity significantly influences local COVID-19 incidence. Our findings demonstrate a complex meaning of "local" when investigating connected epidemics and emphasize the importance of collaborative interventions for pandemic prevention and mitigation.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/transmissão , COVID-19/virologia , Genômica , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Saúde Pública , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Controle de Infecções , GeografiaRESUMO
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we now face another public health emergency in the form of monkeypox virus. As of August 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report over 23,000 cases in 80 countries. An inclusive and global collaborative effort to understand the biology, evolution, and spread of the virus as well as commitment to vaccine equity will be critical toward containing this outbreak. We share the voices of leading experts in this space on what they see as the most pressing questions and directions for the community.
Assuntos
Mpox , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Surtos de Doenças , Humanos , Mpox/epidemiologia , Mpox/prevenção & controle , Monkeypox virus , Pandemias/prevenção & controleRESUMO
A game-changing intervention in the COVID-19 pandemic has been the rapid implementation of highly effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The 2022 Canada Gairdner International Award recognizes Pieter Cullis, Katalin Karikó, and Drew Weissman "for their pioneering work developing nucleoside-modified mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) drug delivery: the foundational technologies for the highly effective COVID-19 mRNA vaccines." Cell editor Cheri Sirois caught up with Pieter to discuss how a long interest in basic and applied questions in lipid biology led to this fortuitous collaboration. Excerpts of the conversation are presented below.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Lipossomos , Nanopartículas , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Lipídeos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
The scientific and clinical communities have both experienced several harsh lessons on clinical care management and drug development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we discuss several key lessons learned and describe a framework within which our two communities can work together and invest in to improve future pandemic responses.
Assuntos
Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , Desenvolvimento de Medicamentos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Preparações FarmacêuticasRESUMO
The spread of scientific misinformation is not new but rather has long posed threats to human health, environmental well-being, and the creation of a sustainable and equitable future. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to develop strategies to counteract scientific misinformation has taken on an acute urgency. Cell editor Nicole Neuman sat down with Walter Quattrociocchi and Dietram Scheufele to gain insights on how we got here and what does-and does not-work to fight the spread of scientific misinformation. Excerpts from this conversation, edited for clarity and length, are presented below, and the full conversation is available with the article online.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra COVID-19/uso terapêutico , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Comunicação , Jornalismo Médico , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , SARS-CoV-2 , Pesquisa Biomédica , COVID-19/virologia , Humanos , PolíticaRESUMO
As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic evolves, new variants continue to emerge. Some highly transmissible variants, such as Delta, also raised concerns about the effectiveness provided by current vaccines. Understanding immunological correlates of protection and how laboratory findings correspond to clinical effectiveness is imperative to shape future vaccination strategies.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Vacinação/métodos , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/virologia , Vacinas contra COVID-19/classificação , Humanos , Imunidade Celular , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Mutação , SARS-CoV-2/genéticaRESUMO
Vaccines save millions of lives from infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. As the world awaits safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, we celebrate the progresses made and highlight challenges ahead in vaccines and the science behind them.
Assuntos
Controle de Doenças Transmissíveis , Doenças Transmissíveis/imunologia , Vacinas/imunologia , Adjuvantes Imunológicos/administração & dosagem , COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Ensaios Clínicos como Assunto , Doenças Transmissíveis/microbiologia , Doenças Transmissíveis/parasitologia , Doenças Transmissíveis/virologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/etiologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Uso de Medicamentos , Humanos , Imunidade Coletiva , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Pneumonia Viral/imunologia , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Vacinação , Vacinas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Virais/química , Vacinas Virais/imunologiaRESUMO
Infectious diseases prevalent in humans and animals are caused by pathogens that once emerged from other animal hosts. In addition to these established infections, new infectious diseases periodically emerge. In extreme cases they may cause pandemics such as COVID-19; in other cases, dead-end infections or smaller epidemics result. Established diseases may also re-emerge, for example by extending geographically or by becoming more transmissible or more pathogenic. Disease emergence reflects dynamic balances and imbalances, within complex globally distributed ecosystems comprising humans, animals, pathogens, and the environment. Understanding these variables is a necessary step in controlling future devastating disease emergences.
Assuntos
Doenças Transmissíveis Emergentes/epidemiologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Pneumonia Viral/epidemiologia , COVID-19 , Doenças Transmissíveis Emergentes/prevenção & controle , Doenças Transmissíveis Emergentes/transmissão , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Infecções por Coronavirus/transmissão , Demografia , Meio Ambiente , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Humanos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/transmissãoRESUMO
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that causes COVID-19 respiratory syndrome has caused global public health and economic crises, necessitating rapid development of vaccines and therapeutic countermeasures. The world-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented with government, academic, and private partnerships working together to rapidly develop vaccine and antibody countermeasures. Many of the technologies being used are derived from prior government-academic partnerships for response to other emerging infections.
Assuntos
Infecções por Coronavirus/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/tratamento farmacológico , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Vacinas Virais/imunologia , Vacinas contra a AIDS/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/química , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/química , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/química , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Betacoronavirus/fisiologia , COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/imunologia , Humanos , Colaboração Intersetorial , Pneumonia Viral/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2 , Vacinas Virais/química , Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19RESUMO
Operation Outbreak (OO) is a Bluetooth-based simulation platform that teaches students how pathogens spread and the impact of interventions, thereby facilitating the safe reopening of schools. OO also generates data to inform epidemiological models and prevent future outbreaks. Before SARS-CoV-2 was reported, we repeatedly simulated a virus with similar features, correctly predicting many human behaviors later observed during the pandemic.
Assuntos
Simulação por Computador , Instrução por Computador/métodos , Busca de Comunicante/métodos , Infecções por Coronavirus/epidemiologia , Epidemiologia/educação , Pneumonia Viral/epidemiologia , Número Básico de Reprodução , COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Infecções por Coronavirus/transmissão , Humanos , Aplicativos Móveis , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/transmissão , SmartphoneRESUMO
Researchers around the globe have been mounting, accelerating, and redeploying efforts across disciplines and organizations to tackle the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. However, humankind continues to be afflicted by numerous other devastating diseases in increasing numbers. Here, we outline considerations and opportunities toward striking a good balance between maintaining and redefining research priorities.
Assuntos
Pesquisa Biomédica , Infecções por Coronavirus , Pandemias , Pneumonia Viral , Pesquisa Biomédica/economia , COVID-19 , Doenças Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico , Doenças Cardiovasculares/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças Cardiovasculares/prevenção & controle , Infecções por Coronavirus/diagnóstico , Infecções por Coronavirus/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Ciência de Dados/instrumentação , Ciência de Dados/métodos , Atenção à Saúde , Humanos , Invenções , Doenças Metabólicas/diagnóstico , Doenças Metabólicas/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças Metabólicas/prevenção & controle , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/prevenção & controle , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/diagnóstico , Pneumonia Viral/tratamento farmacológico , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , PesquisaRESUMO
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) threatens global public health. The development of a vaccine is urgently needed for the prevention and control of COVID-19. Here, we report the pilot-scale production of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate (BBIBP-CorV) that induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies titers in mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and nonhuman primates (cynomolgus monkeys and rhesus macaques) to provide protection against SARS-CoV-2. Two-dose immunizations using 2 µg/dose of BBIBP-CorV provided highly efficient protection against SARS-CoV-2 intratracheal challenge in rhesus macaques, without detectable antibody-dependent enhancement of infection. In addition, BBIBP-CorV exhibits efficient productivity and good genetic stability for vaccine manufacture. These results support the further evaluation of BBIBP-CorV in a clinical trial.
Assuntos
Betacoronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos/métodos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Vacinas de Produtos Inativados/uso terapêutico , Vacinas Virais/uso terapêutico , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Betacoronavirus/genética , COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Chlorocebus aethiops , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Cobaias , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Macaca fascicularis , Macaca mulatta , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Filogenia , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Coelhos , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , SARS-CoV-2 , Vacinas de Produtos Inativados/efeitos adversos , Células Vero , Vacinas Virais/efeitos adversosRESUMO
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a virulent pneumonia, with >4,000,000 confirmed cases worldwide and >290,000 deaths as of May 15, 2020. It is critical that vaccines and therapeutics be developed very rapidly. Mice, the ideal animal for assessing such interventions, are resistant to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we overcome this difficulty by exogenous delivery of human ACE2 with a replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad5-hACE2). Ad5-hACE2-sensitized mice developed pneumonia characterized by weight loss, severe pulmonary pathology, and high-titer virus replication in lungs. Type I interferon, T cells, and, most importantly, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) are critical for virus clearance and disease resolution in these mice. Ad5-hACE2-transduced mice enabled rapid assessments of a vaccine candidate, of human convalescent plasma, and of two antiviral therapies (poly I:C and remdesivir). In summary, we describe a murine model of broad and immediate utility to investigate COVID-19 pathogenesis and to evaluate new therapies and vaccines.
Assuntos
Betacoronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/patologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/patologia , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Vacinação , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Animais , COVID-19 , Chlorocebus aethiops , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Interferon gama/genética , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Pulmão/patologia , Pulmão/virologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/genética , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Receptor de Interferon alfa e beta/genética , Receptor de Interferon alfa e beta/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2 , Fator de Transcrição STAT1/genética , Fator de Transcrição STAT1/metabolismo , Organismos Livres de Patógenos Específicos , Transdução Genética , Células Vero , Carga Viral , Replicação ViralRESUMO
Vaccines are urgently needed to control the ongoing pandemic COVID-19 and previously emerging MERS/SARS caused by coronavirus (CoV) infections. The CoV spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) is an attractive vaccine target but is undermined by limited immunogenicity. We describe a dimeric form of MERS-CoV RBD that overcomes this limitation. The RBD-dimer significantly increased neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers compared to conventional monomeric form and protected mice against MERS-CoV infection. Crystal structure showed RBD-dimer fully exposed dual receptor-binding motifs, the major target for NAbs. Structure-guided design further yielded a stable version of RBD-dimer as a tandem repeat single-chain (RBD-sc-dimer) which retained the vaccine potency. We generalized this strategy to design vaccines against COVID-19 and SARS, achieving 10- to 100-fold enhancement of NAb titers. RBD-sc-dimers in pilot scale production yielded high yields, supporting their scalability for further clinical development. The framework of immunogen design can be universally applied to other beta-CoV vaccines to counter emerging threats.
Assuntos
Betacoronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio/imunologia , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , Coronavírus Relacionado à Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave/imunologia , Desenho Universal , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Betacoronavirus/química , COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Chlorocebus aethiops , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Coronavírus da Síndrome Respiratória do Oriente Médio/química , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/genética , Peptidil Dipeptidase A/metabolismo , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Ligação Proteica , Domínios e Motivos de Interação entre Proteínas/imunologia , Receptores Virais/metabolismo , Coronavírus Relacionado à Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave/química , SARS-CoV-2 , Células Sf9 , Organismos Livres de Patógenos Específicos , Spodoptera , Transfecção , Vacinação/métodos , Células Vero , Vacinas ViraisRESUMO
Vaccines have stemmed many infectious diseases, but when SARS-CoV-2 emerged, traditional vaccine development would not have been fast enough. This year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes work that enabled the rapid development of mRNA vaccines, which halted the COVID-19 pandemic. The feat was a product of basic biological insights coupled with technological innovations, which have transformed vaccine design.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Vacinas , Humanos , Vacinas de mRNA , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Vacinas contra COVID-19/genética , Vacinas/genéticaRESUMO
Immunocompromised individuals and particularly those with hematologic malignancies are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2-associated morbidity and mortality due to immunologic deficits that limit prevention, treatment, and clearance of the virus. Understanding the natural history of viral infections in people with impaired immunity due to underlying conditions, immunosuppressive therapy, or a combination thereof has emerged as a critical area of investigation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies focused on these individuals have provided key insights into aspects of innate and adaptive immunity underlying both the antiviral immune response and excess inflammation in the setting of COVID-19. This review presents what is known about distinct states of immunologic vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2 and how this information can be harnessed to improve prevention and treatment strategies for immunologically high-risk populations.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Imunidade Adaptativa , Antivirais , Humanos , Pandemias/prevenção & controleRESUMO
The brutal toll of another viral pandemic can be blunted by investing now in research that uncovers mechanisms of broad-based immunity so we may have vaccines and therapeutics at the ready. We do not know exactly what pathogen may trigger the next wave or next pandemic. We do know, however, that the human immune system must respond and must be bolstered with effective vaccines and other therapeutics to preserve lives and livelihoods. These countermeasures must focus on features conserved among families of pathogens in order to be responsive against something yet to emerge. Here, we focus on immunological approaches to mitigate the impact of the next emerging virus pandemic by developing vaccines that elicit both broadly protective antibodies and T cells. Identifying human immune mechanisms of broad protection against virus families with pandemic potential will be our best defense for humanity in the future.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Vacinas , Anticorpos Antivirais , Humanos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , SARS-CoV-2 , Linfócitos TRESUMO
Emerging infectious diseases will continue to threaten public health and are sustained by global commerce, travel and disruption of ecological systems. Most pandemic threats are caused by viruses from either zoonotic sources or vector-borne sources. Developing better ways to anticipate and manage the ongoing microbial challenge will be critical for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and, conversely, each such goal will affect the ability to control infectious diseases. Here we discuss how technology can be applied effectively to better prepare for and respond to new viral diseases with a focus on new paradigms for vaccine development.
Assuntos
Doenças Transmissíveis Emergentes/imunologia , Vacinação/métodos , Vacinas Virais/imunologia , Viroses/imunologia , Animais , Doenças Transmissíveis Emergentes/prevenção & controle , Doenças Transmissíveis Emergentes/virologia , Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Saúde Pública/métodos , Vacinas Virais/uso terapêutico , Viroses/epidemiologia , Viroses/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Scientific evidence regularly guides policy decisions1, with behavioural science increasingly part of this process2. In April 2020, an influential paper3 proposed 19 policy recommendations ('claims') detailing how evidence from behavioural science could contribute to efforts to reduce impacts and end the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we assess 747 pandemic-related research articles that empirically investigated those claims. We report the scale of evidence and whether evidence supports them to indicate applicability for policymaking. Two independent teams, involving 72 reviewers, found evidence for 18 of 19 claims, with both teams finding evidence supporting 16 (89%) of those 18 claims. The strongest evidence supported claims that anticipated culture, polarization and misinformation would be associated with policy effectiveness. Claims suggesting trusted leaders and positive social norms increased adherence to behavioural interventions also had strong empirical support, as did appealing to social consensus or bipartisan agreement. Targeted language in messaging yielded mixed effects and there were no effects for highlighting individual benefits or protecting others. No available evidence existed to assess any distinct differences in effects between using the terms 'physical distancing' and 'social distancing'. Analysis of 463 papers containing data showed generally large samples; 418 involved human participants with a mean of 16,848 (median of 1,699). That statistical power underscored improved suitability of behavioural science research for informing policy decisions. Furthermore, by implementing a standardized approach to evidence selection and synthesis, we amplify broader implications for advancing scientific evidence in policy formulation and prioritization.